Burma Net News May 31,1996 #428

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Date: Fri, 31 May 1996 03:38:22 -0700 (PDT)
------------------------ BurmaNet ------------------------
"Appropriate Information Technologies, Practical Strategies"
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The BurmaNet News: May 31,1996
Issue # 428
Noted in Passing:
Asean should set condition on Burma for joining the organization,
if Asean is the should not allow the dictatorship state to participate."
-Mr Sulak
(See AMUNAY URGED TO LIFT ENGAGEMENT ABOVE SELF-INTEREST)
HEADLINES:
==========
THE NATION: VITRIOLIC SLORC SLAMS SUU KYI AND THE WEST
THE NATION: BURMA RESHUFFLES CABINET
THE NATION: CRACKDOWN 'WILL DAMAGE BURMA'S IMAGE'
THE NATION: SILENCE IN THE HILLS
THE NATION: NLD BACK AS POLITICAL FORCE
BKK POST: AMUNAY URGED TO LIFT ENGAGEMENT ABOVE SELF-INTEREST
BKK POST: CAMPAIGN STEPPED UP AGAINST DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT
STRAITS TIMES : MYANMAR SLAMS INTERFERENCE IN INTERNAL AFFAIRS
WALL STREET JOURNAL : THREE BURMESE DAYS
THE ASIAN AGE : SUU KYI REJECTS COMPROMISE WITH MILITARY
DAVID PITTS : BURMESE DEMOCRATIC LEADER TO RECEIVE
NDI DEMOCRACY AWARD
-----------------------------------------------------------
THE NATION: VITRIOLIC SLORC SLAMS SUU KYI AND THE WEST
May 31,1996
AP
The ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council stepped up its
campaign yesterday against pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi,
denouncing her in the state-run press as a "stooge" of foreign
powers.
The English-language daily The New Light of Myanmar accused Suu
Kyi, who this past weekend defiantly hosted a major opposition
meeting, of "ignoring the national well-being and dancing to the
tune of the colonialists."
Suu Kyi challenged the ruling military regime by going ahead with
the congress, which the authorities tried to prevent by arresting
262 of her supporters, and vowing to hold several more. Only 18
official delegates eluded arrest and attended, along with scores
of other sympathisers.
The meeting was to reunite those opposition candidates not already
killed, tortured or driven into exile, who won 392 of 485 seats in
parliamentary elections in May 1990. The Slorc never recognised
the result and the opposition meeting called on them to do so now.
One newspaper article yesterday referred to Suu Kyi as "the
daughter-in-law of the white face," and described her as a
"popular public figure very useful in the scheme to indirectly
enslave the country". Racism and xenophobia are familiar themes in
the propaganda circulated by the military both in the official
press and in anonymous leaflets.
They contain constant reminders that Suu Kyi, the daughter of
Burmese independence hero Gen Aung San, is married to a British
academic, Michael Aris. The implication is that her loyalties lie
with England, which was the country's colonial master until 1948.
The United Kingdom is now the biggest foreign investor in the
country.
The military regime, which took power in 1988 after violently
suppressing pro-democracy demonstrations, is enthusiastically
wooing foreign investors.
Most major deals so far involve tourism and the extradition of
natural resources, such as oil and gas. The newspaper also took to
task the Western media, saying that radio stations such as the
Voice of America and the BBC "have of late been continuously
broadcasting fabricated news and articles, taking the Myanmar
[Burma] people to be snooty children and nincompoops". Myanmar is
the official name given the country by the junta.
Burmese depend heavily on the foreign media for uncensored news.
The BBC on Monday night broadcast a live discussion with Suu Kyi
on its Burmese language service, but her phone line was cut _
presumably by the authorities _ during the programme. A separate
article entitled "Let's Tell the Truth", said Western nations were
trying to interfere in Burma's affairs by using "newspapers,
journals, magazines, radios, TVs, satellite communication systems,
fax, Internet and etc, and employing all types of foreign
correspondents and congressmen and UN representatives and
ambassadors of either sex."
The article in The New Light of Myanmar repeated a call the
newspaper made last week for the government to stop Suu Kyi's
weekend speeches, which are a regular affair. In what was clearly
meant as a threat, the author cited two specific ordinances under
which the gatherings could be declared illegal. (TN)
**********************
THE NATION: BURMA RESHUFFLES CABINET
May 31,1996
Agencies
Burma's ruling State Law and Order Restoration Council announced a
minor cabinet reshuffle switching four ministerial posts, state-
run media reported.
Three deputy ministers were named full-fledged ministers, and
three full ministers were appointed to the Security and
Administrative Committee. Deputy Trade Minister Aung Thaung was
appointed minister for Heavy Industries Saw Tun became minister
for health, and Deputy Construction Minister Aung San is the new
minister for culture.
Former livestock and fisheries minister Brig Gen Maung Maung has
been transferred to the deputy prime minister's office. He was
also appointed secretary of the Investment Commission.
Former health minister Vice Adm Than Nyunt, former minister for
culture Brig Gen Thaung Myint, and former labour minister Lt-Gen
Aye Thaung became members of the Security and Administrative
Committee, retaining their ministerial ranks. All are over 60.
Maj Gen Saw Lwin, minister in the Slorc chairman's office, takes
over the labour portfolio. The change was announced over state
radio and television late on Wednesday and published in government
newspapers yesterday. (TN)
*******************
THE NATION: CRACKDOWN 'WILL DAMAGE BURMA'S IMAGE'
May 31,1996
Robert Birsel, Reuter
The Burmese government's crackdown on the democracy movement has
hurt its efforts to lure foreign investment and given ammunition
to opponents of the regime, businessmen and democracy activists
said yesterday.
The military regime last week rounded up more than 250 members of
Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for Democracy (NLD) in an
unsuccessful attempt to block a party congress.
The arrest have been condemned by several Western and Asian
governments and have thrown the international spotlight back on to
Burma.
"It's certainly damaged the [investment] sentiment," George
Morgan, of HG Asia's Bangkok office said. HG Asia is organising
and investment fund for Indochina and Burma.
"I was in the US last week talking to institutional investors and
quite a few people raised concerns about Burma," Morgan said.
Several Bangkok-based businessmen involved in Burma declined
comment on investing there in the light of last week's arrests.
Last month, US soft drink giant PepsiCo Inc sold its stake in its
Burma venture in the face of a growing boycott across US campuses.
Several US apparel firms have said they will not renew contracts
with Burmese suppliers because of rights abuses and the
suppression of the democracy movement there, the US-based Free
Burma coalition said.
These include Oshkosh B'Gosh Inc, Liz Clairborne, Eddie Bauer,
Levi Strauss and Macy's. The group said garment exports from Burma
to the United States have dropped by two thirds in recent years
because of the US campaign to isolate the ruling military
government.
"There's definitely a backlash [against Burma]," Morgan said.
"There are very few bad guys left. South Africa is gone. China is
not so interesting. Burma is the current focus."
A pro-democracy activist said the crackdown by the ruling State
Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc) would provide more
ammunition for those seeking to stop foreign companies from
investing in Burma.
"What the military regime is doing indicates that they are very
worried, and that suggests foreign investments right now are not
so secure," said the activist, who asked not to be named.
"I would expect it to have some serious effects. I expect it will
help build up the campaign," he said. Both Morgan and the
campaigner said the crackdown was more likely to make those
thinking of investing in Burma hesitate, rather than to make those
already there pull out. "The people on the ground actually
investing don't see much change," Morgan said. (TN)
****************
THE NATION: SILENCE IN THE HILLS
May 31,1996
Rangoon's oldest, foes, the ethnic resistance armies, were
conspicuously quiet last week, Aung Zaw writes.
While the West and two Asean countries, the Philippines and
Thailand, have been vocal in expressing their concern over the
Slorc's recent crackdown on the National League for Democracy
(NLD) movement, Burma's ethnic minorities, several of whom have
forged ceasefire agreements with the Slorc in recent years, have
remained quiet, although it is believed that many of them support
the NLD.
"We have always supported Daw Aung San Suu Kyi," said a senior
Kachin leader who requested anonymity, although "we don't want to
jeopardise our relationship with the Slorc."
The Kachin Independent Organisation (KIO) reached a ceasefire
agreement with the Slorc in 1994. "We are monitoring the political
developments in Burma. We support the mass democracy movement,"
the Kachin leader insisted.
He added, however, the since the ceasefire with the Slorc was
signed, there has been no substantial dialogue with the ruling
junta. Some sources suggested the relationship between the Slorc
and Kachin rebels has deteriorated. And it is a wellknown fact
that the current commander of the Northern command, Maj. Gen Saw
Lwin, and Kachin leaders are at odds.
Moreover, some dissidents referred to a recent incident wherein
the junta ordered the immediate dismantling of the Kachin's
ceremonial Manau posts (totem poles), which were erected on
private land during a centennial celebration. It was said that Gen
Maung Aye, vice chairman of the Slorc, and his aides ordered the
removal of the Manau posts before he was to pass though the area
on his way to Maymyo, further straining the relationship between
the Kachins and the Slorc.
Karenni leader Abel Tweed said his Karenni National Progressive
Party (KNPP) supports the democracy movement, adding that his
troops had recently clashed with Slorc soldiers in Kayah state.
"They recently forced people in three villages to relocate," Tweed
noted.
The senior Karenni leader expressed admiration for Suu Kyi's non
violent struggle, but believes the Slorc is concerned only with
those who passes guns. "The Slorc only talks to those who have
guns".
He pointed to drug kingpin Khun Sa, who surrendered to the junta
in January, and who Slorc officials have said might be pardoned
despite the fact he has been engaged in drug trafficking for
decades.
Other ethnic minorities opposed to the Slorc, like the Karen and
Kachin, Mons, have remained silent on the recent events in
Rangoon.
The relationship between the ethnic groups and the Slorc has
become strained recently due to the unexpected meeting between Suu
Kyi and ethnic leaders in Rangoon a few weeks ago. Suu Kyi held
the meeting with the leaders of six ethnic groups at a monastery
despite Slorc-imposed restrictions. Among those who participated
in the meeting were leaders of the Wa, Kachin Democratic Army
(former 4th Brigade) and Karenni National Progressive Liberation
Army.
Slorc officials, according to sources in Rangoon, were furious
when they learned about the meeting. Opposition officials played
it down. "It was just an informal meeting," said one NLD member,
who refused to elaborate.
Just before the crackdown on the NLD, ethnic minorities and other
opposition groups held a week-long conference at the border. They
pledged to support the democratic movement, while the Democratic
Alliance of Burma (DAB) agreed not to support or recognise the
drafting of a new constitution by the Slorc-organised National
Convention.
In a statement, the DAB said it has decided to abandon its armed
struggled against the Slorc and is calling for political dialogue
with the junta as a means of resolving the political turmoil in
the country. (TN)
******************
THE NATION: NLD BACK AS POLITICAL FORCE
May 31, 1996
The party of Aung San Suu Kyi appears to have to have rattled the
ruling junta but it is unlikely to lead to any drastic changes
unless the international community renews pressure on Rangoon.
Aung Zaw reports.
Htun Lwin came to University Avenue four hours before the show was
to begin. But this was no pop concert or football and "the lady"
as she is known throughout Burma was about to give her regular
weekend speech.
Almost 10,000 people turned up to show support for the NLD, which
held its most daring political meeting last week since it won a
landslide victory in the 1990 elections. Normally, Suu Kyi draws
no more than two three thousand listeners to her weekend speeches.
But since the military junta began a nation-wide crackdown last
week, many more have converged on University Avenue to show their
support.
The Saturday gathering clearly underlines the strong support Suu
Kyi still commands. "Nobody forced the people to come," said an
NLD member. "They came voluntarily and gave moral support." He
added that many military intelligence officers and informers were
there but people did not worry too much about them.
The crowd was disciplined and attentive.
"This is great -people obviously support Suu Kyi and her party,"
said one journalist, who witnessed the gathering.
Suu Kyi opened the conference Sunday despite a nation-wide
crackdown on the pro-democracy movement. Well-known writers,
academics and local businessmen showed up for the conference but
only 18 NLD delegates and members escaped the military government
's pre-rally sweep and made it to the conference.
Because of the crackdown, the NLD's original plans were cancelled.
Suu Kyi said: "This is no longer a meeting of elected
representatives of the NLD. We have decided, therefore, this will
be the first in a series of NLD congress."
This alone implies that more trouble is in store for the Slorc,
especially since participants at the conference decided to draft a
rival constitution. The move mocks the junta's National
Convention, which the Slorc had organised to draft a constitution
that would legitimise its grip on powe. But the NC has been
convened and cancelled repeatedly over the past three years.
The Slorc has been trying to ensure a leading role for the
military in politics. In its constitution, Suu Kyi is barred from
joining politics on the grounds that she has lived abroad and is
married to a British citizen.
But Slorc officials this week hinted that some NLD delegates might
not be released if the NLD holds more congress in the future.
Last week's crackdown was obviously meant to prevent the NLD from
pushing through with the conference. But many ask why the Slorc
overreacted if it did not consider the conference important.
Before the conference, a senior military intelligence officer said
the regime had feared that the NLD had a plan to establish a
paralleled government. "What if they form the government?" he
asked.
Analysts recalled the Gandhi Hall conference held on June 29, 1990
shortly after the general elections in May.
The junta, analysts said, did not want a repetition of the event
during which the NLD delegates publicly called on them to hold
power to elected representatives. A former NLD member who attended
the Gandhi Hall conference recalled what the happened. "At that
time they (military leaders) were so nervous - we heard Lt Gen
Khin Nyunt could not been sleep as he was afraid we were going to
form a parallel government."
While the initial conference has ended, it is not known yet
whether the junta will free all the detained delegates. Suu Kyi
expressed concern Monday that the junta will not release some NLD
delegates and one of her aids, Win Htein, who is believed t have
been imprisoned. Analysts estimated that approximately 258 party
members and supporters were arrested.
Suu Kyi said some of her representatives had been charged under a
section of the Emergency Provision PowerAct. Several sources said
nine NLD members from the Irrawaddy Delta were charged and sent to
the notorious Insein Prison.
Rangoon residents also reported that besides the NLD delegates,
several students and youths were
also rounded up and their parents have yet to be informed of their
whereabouts.
According to some unconfirmed reports, about 100 students and
youths were arrested.
Among them are Ye Kyaw Zwar, a sophomore engineering a student at
Rangoon Institute of Technology (RIT), and Kyaw Kyaw Htay, a
freshman English major. Ye Kyaw Swar was detained in 1990 for
political activism and only released in 1993.
According to some sources, on Friday, two days before the
conference was to begin, two young monks were arrested for holding
pro-democracy placards at a bus stop near the Sule Pagoda in the
centre of Rangoon.
"Many of the NLD MPs and other detainess including the monks have
already been transferred to Insein Jail," said an NLD source.
Eyewitnesses could not identify the detainess because their faces
were covered by blankets.
Before the crackdown, a dozen activists and students were thrown
into jail in April, said a well-placed source in Rangoon. The
students, said the source, were planning to stage a peaceful
gathering to show their support towards the NLD-organised
conference.
It was reported that a few months ago students in Rangoon,
Mandalay, Sagaing division and in Taungoo district were seen
distributing leaflets, newsletters, and other documents against
the regime.
On March 13, students planned to march from Rangoon University to
Suu Kyi's house, but troops blocked University to Suu Kyi's house,
but troops blocked University Avenue and nobody was allowed to
pass through the area. Even before this, the Slorc had begun
making the necessary preparation. A students leader, Min Ze Ya,
was sent back to Kamawat in Mon state. Authorities threatened him
with arrest if he refused to go back.
"They may be looking for a spark to make them move," said one
source. But Suu Kyi has encouraged students and activists not to
take to the a streets.
It is known that students and opposition leaders have long been
arguing over whether or not take drastic action.
One NLD member said: "We are looking in the long term. It does not
mean just going out and saying "We hate Slorc." He recalled that
thousands were murdered on the streets in 1988. "What did they
get? The junta won't hesitate to use force."
In any case, the recent NLD conference did not disturb the Slorc
leadership, analysts said. Although the Slorc accused Suu Kyi of
rocking the boat, officials in Rangoon said they were not bothered
by it. "They are in firm control," said one dissident.
It was business as usual for Burma's powerful leaders this week as
they busied themselves with routine inspections and visit. In
Rangoon, not far from Suu Kyi's house, the Myanmar - Open for
Business" conference was being staged and foreign businessman and
government ministers attended as if there was nothing else
happening in the country.
Myanmar TV has also shown Lt Gen Khin Nyunt inspecting
dormitories. But professors at Rangoon University said that chief
of the secret police's real purpose in making the visit was to
make sure everything was under control.
Khin Nyunt visited the Medical School where he met students and
lectured them on "the only superpower country in the world,"
referring to the US. He also accused Suu Kyi and her followers of
being puppets for the US government, which he accused of wanting
to colonise Burma.
"There is a group of person in Burma who have been enticed by a
big nation that is attempting to bring Burma under its influence
on the pretext of democracy and human rights," Khin Nyunt charged.
The US is the most vocal critic of Burma and will be sending its
special envoy soon to Europe and Asia to sound out their views on
taking concerted action against the Rangoon government. But the
junta has not been affected by international condemnation of its
actions and continued its intimidation of those wanting to
participate in the NLD-organised conference.
To counter the NLD conference, the junta organised what it called
an "anti-destructionists rallies" in some area. Students, teacher
and villagers are believed to have been brought by the truckload
by Slorc. But unlike the crowed at University Avenue, their faces
lacked expression and they were more like status, marching like
zombies and hardly smiling.
At the end of their rally, they chanted slogans and dispersed
quickly. Slorc claimed that about 100,000 people attended the
government rallies. But Suu Kyi dismissed the rallies as "awash
with hatred and vindictiveness."
According to a well-placed source in Rangoon, Slorc suddenly
ordered local officials to stage rallies. "Students workers and
nurses were forced to come. In Sagaing division, local Slorc
officials were ordered to provide at least one person from each
house hold.
Analysts in Rangoon said unlike the situation in 1988, the junta
has shown a reluctance to use force, especially as it continues to
attract more foreign businessmen and tourists.
But the recent crackdown has already backfired against the junta.
The wave of arrests invited fresh international criticism and
prompted Washington to send its special envoy to its allies.
A Bangkok-based Western diplomats said, "Enough is enough - there
is no need to say Slorc is bad. The question is what can be done?"
Suu Kyi has reiterated her call for a meaningful dialogue between
the pro-democracy movement and the ruling junta. But the Slorc has
been sending mixed signals.
"Dialogue and meaningful change are still impossible unless the
junta's neighbouring countries nudge Rangoon to change its ways.
Asean and Japan are unlikely to do anything drastic," one analyst
said. Nevertheless, Manila and Bangkok express concern and urged a
political dialogue. In a rebuff for Rangoon they also sent
representatives to the first day of the NLD conference.
"Japan is pretending to be angry or upset because of Washington.
But actually, they don't know what to do and they don't really
understand the situation," said one observer in Tokyo.
The strife will no doubt continue in Burma. The recent episode in
Burma has proven again that empty talk, constructive engagement
and tough threats do not work.
Aung Zaw is a freelance writer. He contributed this article to The
Nation.
*************************
BKK POST: AMUNAY URGED TO LIFT ENGAGEMENT ABOVE SELF-INTEREST
May 31, 1996
ACADEMICS urged newly-appointed Foreign Minister Amnuay Viravan to
elevate Thailand's constructive engagement policy on Burma above
mere economic interests.
They also called on Thailand and the Philippines to take the lead
in convincing other Asean members to follow suit.
The issue was discussed at a seminar called "democratic
Development in Burma after the arrests of NLD representatives."
Social critics Sulak Sivaraksa said Mr Amunay should use the
opportunity of his new appointment to change Thailand's policy on
Burma.
"Mr Amunay is a good person with good intentions. I am looking
forward to seeing him talking with Prime Minister Banharn and the
Palang Dhama Party, which claims to have virtue and morality, to
change the foreign policy (towards Burma)."
Mr Sulak praised the Government for deciding to send a Rangoon-
based diplomat to observer the conference of the NLD earlier this
week.
"It is a good sign for the Government and it shows Thailand's
bravery," he added.
The Philippines was the only other Asean member to joining
Thailand in calling for national reconciliation in Burma during
escalating tensions this week.
"Asean should set condition on Burma for joining the organization,
" Mr Sulak said. "If Asean is the should not allow the
dictatorship state to participate."
Bur adviser to the Chart Pattana Party Kraisak Choonhavan said it
was unlikely said it was unlikely Thailand would make any changes
to its policy given the fact Bangkok does not discourage labour
exploration.
"Thailand is enjoying cheap labour from more than 400,000 Burmese
workers and I expected they will rise to be more than 600,000.
(BP)
*******************
BKK POST: CAMPAIGN STEPPED UP AGAINST DEMOCRACY MOVEMENT
May 31, 1996
Rangoon, Reuters
THE military government stepped up its campaign against foreign
interference in the country and staged another mass rally to
denounce Aung San Suu Kyi's democracy movement.
A crowed of about 77,000 people gathered in Hmawbi Township north
of Rangoon to listen to speeches attacking the revitalised
democracy movement, an informational Ministry sources said.
The government organised rallies were similar to others held over
the past few days where hundreds of thousands of people have
gathered to chant slogans, were flags and denounce democracy
activists and unwanted foreign influence in Burma.
Diplomats and others observers say the rallies are staged, with
the military forcing people to attend.
State-run television shows the rallies at length on news
programmes, with thousands of people sitting in orderly rows
listening to several speakers making nearly identical speeches.
Mr Suu Kyi earlier denounced the rallies as "a comical farce..
She said it was widely known that people were forced to attend,
adding the people of Burma backed her democracy movement and
wanted an end to military dictatorship.
The government has also stepped up verbal and written attacks on
foreign interference in Burma.
It ran slogans in newspapers and scrolling headlines on television
denouncing foreign interference, including "crush all internal
and external destructive elements as the common enemy" and :oppose
those relying on external elements, acting as stooges, holding
negative views. (BP)
******************************************
MYANMAR SLAMS INTERFERENCE IN INTERNAL AFFAIRS
May 31, 1996
Straits Times 5/31
YANGON -- Myanmar's military rulers yesterday stepped up denunciations of
foreign interference in the country and continued verbal and written attacks
on the democracy movement led by Ms Aung San Suu Kyi while she has ruled out
any compromise with the military junta.
The government ran slogans in newspapers and as scrolling headlines on
television, including "Oppose foreign nations interfering in internal affairs of
the state", "Crush all internal and external destructive elements as the
common enemy" and "Oppose those relying on external elements, acting as
stooges, holding negative views".
On Wednesday, two government-sponsored rallies with crowds estimated by
the media at 100,000 chanted slogans condemning pro-democracy activists
and what it called the influence of foreigners on them.
The rallies have occurred all week since Ms Aung San Suu Kyi defied
government intimidation and numerous arrests to hold a meeting of leaders of
her National League for Democracy (NLD) on Sunday.
The military regime, the State Law and Order Restoration Council (Slorc),
assumed power in 1988 after crushing a pro-democracy uprising that left
thousands dead or in jail.
A commentary carried in all official newspapers renewed an attack on the
Voice Of America and British Broadcasting Corporation, both of which
broadcast daily Myanmar-language news programmes.
Western nations, which have criticised the Slorcand condemned recent arrests
of more than 261 NLD members, were interfering in Myanmar for strategic
reasons, the commentary said.
"Those neo-colonialists begrudge Myanmar its strategic position in Asia and
its rich natural resources and could not bear to see it so close to and friendly
and cooperative with a big country of the East -- one that will one day become
so strong as to vie with them and keep them in check."
Myanmar has close relations with China, and buys a majority of its military
hardware from its northern neighbour.
In an interview published in the Japanese daily, the Asahi Shimbun, yesterday
Ms Aung San Suu Kyi rejected the idea of finding a compromise to promote
democratisation. She said the idea of having a certain number of military
officers in any government, as proposed by a Myanmar national daily, was
"unacceptable". -- Reuter, AFP.
*****************************************
THREE BURMESE DAYS
Editorial
The following is from today's edition of Wall Street Journal
Thu, 30 May 1996 12:28:33 -0700
Throughout the world, foolishness and greed are sometimes draped with
a veil of respectable-sounding phrases like "constructive engagement,"
based on the promise that by doing business in a country like Burma,
you expect to change it. The problem is that once companies and
governments climb into the boat with dictators, they are very reluctant to
rock it lest all their deals go overboard. Some of the world's most courageous
and freedom-loving people rocked the boat in Burma over the past weekend,
when the long-repressed National League for Democracy and its leader
Aung San Suu Kyi staged a party congress.
The importance of this event cannot be underestimated, for it comes at
a time when most of Burma's neighbors are using the doctrine of
noninterference as an excuse to obtain national resources at bargain
basement prices, mistakenly assuming that Asean's signature see-no-evil
approach can keep the State Law and Order Restoration Council in power forever.
Despite all the rhetoric about business engagement being a force
for change, more often as not it becomes a enforcer for the status
quo. As police were rounding up more than 250 elected democratic
representatives from the aborted 1990 election, Atlantic Richfield
president Roger Truitt was photographed in government
newspapers with the chief of Burma's secret police and with a member
of the ruling Slorc junta who, the AP reported, had threatened last
week to "annihilate" Suu Kyi. Some 80 foreign journalists were there
to read all about it. Yesterday, the junta staged its own rally; the
participants were ordered to attend and cheered when an announcer
said, "Please cheer."
Not everyone looked away from the democrats' gathering. Countries
such as Britain, the U.S., France and Australia sent diplomats to the
opening of the three-day democracy meeting Sunday, in a sort of
protective display. Support also came from unexpected quarters.
Thailand sent an official observer. More significant still, major aid
donor Japan offered rare public criticism of the regime, warning Slorc
that the crackdown on democrats was damaging business confidence
in Burma. On Monday, South Korea added its voice to the chorus
coming--at least initially--exclusively from democracies.
What this weekend's events proved is that "engagement" can work
wonders, if the will to work them is there. If Slorc had had its usual way
on Sunday, there would have been no peaceful democracy gathering of
some 8,000 people--it would have been prevented or broken up like all
others for the past six years, at whatever cost in lives. The fact that the
meeting went forward is almost certainly due to countries like Japan
telling Slorc to keep its hands off or else. Though Tokyo has been criticized
in the past for seeming too eager to shower Rangoon with yen, in this
case we should be glad Japan had aid to threaten to withdraw. What we
all learned here is that "engagement" fails only when people, and nations,
refuse to pull on the lever it provides.
By standing up and baring their chests before Slorc, Burmese democrats
gambled with their lives that some outsiders would not look away.
They were right, and they have at least won the first round.
*****************************************
Suu Kyi rules out compromise
May 30 1996, The Hindustan Times (New Delhi)
TOKYO, May 30 (AFP)
Myanmarese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has rejected the
idea of joining hands with the military to find a compromise to
promote democratisation, a Japanese, a Japanese daily published today
said.
In an interview with Asahi Shimbum yesterday, Aung San Suu Kyi
said the idea of having a certain number of military officers in any
government, as proposed by a Burmese national daily, was
unacceptable.
The leader of the National League for Democracy (NLD) told the
paper it was impossible to make such a compromise even if it was to
speed up the democratisation.
******************
SUU KYI REJECTS COMPROMISE WITH MILITARY
May 30 1996., The Asian Age (New Delhi)
Thanks to world community
Tokyo May 30: Burmese pro-democracy leader Aung San Suu Kyi has
rejected the idea of joining hands with the military to find a
compromise to promote democratisation, a Japanese daily published on
Tuesday.
In an interview on Wednesday with the Asahi Shimbum, Ms Suu Kyi
said the idea of having certain number of military officers in any
government, as proposed by a Burmese national daily, was
'unacceptable' to her National League for Democracy. The leader of
the NLD told the paper it was 'impossible' to make such a
compromise. She further clarified that even if such a compromise held
the promise of a speedy transition to democracy in Burma, her party
would not accept an offer from the military. She said her group could
not trust military junta, which disregarded the 1990 elections results.
in these elections even though her party emerged as the party with the
largest majority she said she appreciate international interest in the
convention on May 26-28. (AFP)
******************************************
BURMESE DEMOCRATIC LEADER TO RECEIVE NDI DEMOCRACY AWARD
(Aung San Suu Kyi and Ambassador Mondale honored) (500)
By David Pitts
USIA Staff Writer
Washington -- Burmese Democratic leader Aung San Suu Kyi and former
Vice President Walter Mondale, currently U.S. ambassador to Japan,
will be presented with the 10th annual W. Averell Harriman Democracy
Award at a luncheon to be held August 26.
The awards were announced May 29 at a news conference held by the
National Democratic Institute for International Affairs (NDI), which
will present the awards in Chicago during the week of the Democratic
Convention being held there this year.
"Aung San Suu Kyi's courageous struggle to restore democracy to Burma
reflects the hopes and aspirations of the Burmese people and is an
inspiration to democrats around the world," said NDI chairman Paul
Kirk, Jr. "As senator, vice president, presidential candidate, and
ambassador, Walter Mondale's career has been marked by a deep and
abiding commitment to public service and democratic government," he
added.
The Democracy Award Luncheon will take place during NDI's
International Visitor's Forum, a week-long series of bipartisan
seminars on the U.S. political process for foreign leaders and
observers visiting the Democratic Convention.
Madeleine Albright, U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, will
present the award to Aung San Suu Kyi, according to an NDI spokesman.
She will not attend personally for fear she would not be allowed to
return to Burma. But she will address the audience by videotape, the
spokesman said.
According to NDI, despite winning 81 percent of the parliamentary
seats in the 1990 elections, Aung San Suu Kyi's National League for
Democracy (NLD) was prevented from taking office by the ruling
military junta. "The recent arrests in Burma are a stark reminder of
the repressive climate there," said NDI president Kenneth Wollack, who
recently visited Aung San Suu Kyi in Rangoon. "They also highlight the
urgent need to maintain support for human rights and democratic
change," he added.
During the Democratic Convention, which will take place August 26-29,
NDI will host more than 500 international guests who will be invited
to participate in seven seminars covering aspects of the U.S. system
of democracy, Wollack explained. "Heads of government, political party
and civic leaders, parliamentarians and diplomats from more than 100
nations are expected to participate," he noted.
About 40 of the foreign guests will be sponsored by the U.S.
Information Agency and they will be invited to join the other guests
for the NDI-sponsored seminars, Wollack said.
NDI was established in 1983 to promote and strengthen democratic
processes throughout the world. Programs focus on six major areas:
political party development, election processes, legislative reform,
local government, civil-military relations and civic education.
"Our mandate is not to sell an American model," said Wollack, "but to
share experiences." In Chicago, "we hope our foreign guests will be
able to observe the convention, seeing the American political process
upfront, its strengths and its weaknesses," he added.
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